An introduction ...

This is a first (for me), and something of an experiment. Until now, SciDev.Net has been fairly conventional in the way that we cover events. We use new technology primarily to speed up delivery of articles, as well as group them on the website, for example by region or topic. But the articles themselves have fallen into traditional journalistic categories (news, opinion, editorials, etc.).

Now seems a good time to be more adventurous. So I'm starting this blog to see if it's a useful way of providing more instant reporting. The intention is to complement, rather than replace, what appears on our website (see details on the left). But hopefully it'll also be an opportunity to provide less formal coverage (including passing on those snippets that never quite make full articles, but still provide essential background to -- and flavour of -- events).

I'll be attending two events over the next ten days. The first is the World Bank's Global Forum on 'Building Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction', which takes place in Washington DC from 13-15 February (full details are here.)

The second is the annual meeting of the American Assocation for the Advancement of Science, being held in San Francisco -- coincidentally but conveniently -- on 16-19 February, at which issues of concern to developing countries are (for once!) high on the agenda. (Full details of this meeting programme can be found here).

I can't promise comprehensive coverage of either. But hopefully, postings from each will convey some of the key issues and ideas that emerge in presentations and discussions. And -- as always with blogs -- comments, criticism and insights from others will be received with great interest.

First posting will from the World Bank on Tuesday, 13 February. Here goes ...